Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the carriage of human organs for transplant by blue-light ambulance service vehicles will be considered a medical emergency and exempt from speed restrictions.

Nicol Stephen: The legislation relating to those vehicles subject to exemptions from speed limits is the responsibility of the UK Government.

Animal Welfare

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned an inquiry into accidents involving deer; if so, why the inquiry was commissioned; what its remit is; who will conduct it; how much it will cost, and when the results will be published.

Ross Finnie: No. The Deer Commission for Scotland, which is funded by the Scottish Executive, has undertaken research relating to public safety and the welfare of wild deer. A summary of this research is included in the Deer Commission’s Annual Report 1999-2000 , a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 9425).

  The research focused on deer-related road accidents and the Deer Commission is considering further research on the current methods to reduce the risks and to identify further initiatives to reduce the risk of accidents involving wild deer.

Asylum Seekers

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the economic impact of employment restrictions on asylum seekers in Scotland.

Ms Margaret Curran: Regular tri-partite meetings are held with the Minister of State for Citizenship and Immigration and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, to discuss the implications of asylum and immigration policy for Scotland. A wide range of issues are discussed at these meetings.

Business

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the economic impact of reducing business rates to the same level as England.

Mr Andy Kerr: In response to a recommendation made by the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group, the Executive is undertaking a study to compare the levels of local taxation with Scotland’s competitors in Europe and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Business rates are at the same level in Scotland as in England. The poundage rate is higher in Scotland, but rateable values are lower. At the 2000 revaluation, rateable values increased by 15% in Scotland compared to 25% in England.

Care of Elderly People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the highest standard of care is provided to elderly people residing in all care homes.

Mr Tom McCabe: Since the first of April last year, the Care Commission has been responsible for the regulation of care services, including care homes, throughout Scotland. In carrying out its regulatory role, the commission must take into account National Care Standards published by the Scottish ministers. These are designed to achieve better quality consistent standards of care focussed on the needs and wishes of the service users.

Communities

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of awards made to communities within the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber constituency from the Community Safety Awards Programme, the cost of each such award and its purpose.

Hugh Henry: Through the Community Safety Partnership Award Programme we have provided Highland Wellbeing Alliance Community Safety Partnership with £139,500 in 2002-03 and £136,734 in 2003-04 to identify and address community safety priorities. To engage communities, this partnership operate a small grants scheme for local initiatives, involving annual expenditure of roughly £50,000. We do not hold detailed information on these awards but are aware that up to end January 2003 the following 14 initiatives, which appear to be based in the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber constituency or act on the wider Highland area, benefited from awards under this scheme:

  SAFE KIDS Coalition for training and awareness raising

  Aviemore Detached Youth Worker

  Safe Tourist Pack - joint initiative aimed at visitors to Highland

  Alness New Community School anti-bullying project

  No Excuses Smoke Alarm Project for older people in Lochaber

  KLB Youth Project in Kinlochbervie

  Lochaber Grinders Skate Park

  Highland Ethnic Minorities Group

  Positive Steps - Home Safety check

  Social Firm Development Group

  Young Driver Awareness Campaign in Badenoch and Strathspey

  Home Start Ross and Cromarty

  Nairn Dog Fouling Campaign

  Charleston Academy School Bus Safety.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it is making of the operation of its care in the community policies.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive sets the overall direction for community care policies. Local authorities must implement these, having regard to their statutory duties and to meeting the needs of their local residents. Central and local government work together to monitor the success of policy implementation through a variety of mechanisms and agencies. These include the collection of statistical information on inputs and outcomes; the establishment of Local Outcome Agreements for specific services; the Joint Performance Information and Assessment Framework, used to evaluate the implementation of the joint delivery of community care services by local authority/NHS Partnerships under the Joint Future Agenda; regulation and inspection of services against National Care Standards by the Care Commission; performance audits undertaken by Audit Scotland to ensure value for money, and assessment and review of services by the Social Work Services Inspectorate, either through the Chief Inspector’s Annual Report or, where necessary, through a review of a particular local authority or service.

Credit Unions

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to support credit unions.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive is helping credit unions to play a vital role in tackling financial exclusion, through funding of £1.5 million over three years to 2004-05 to help implement Unlocking the Potential – an Action Plan for the Credit Union Movement in Scotland . Our funding is helping credit unions to comply with the Financial Services Authority regulatory requirements, to increase their membership and to provide improved services to members. In the Partnership Agreement, we have committed to continue this support.

Dentistry

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its pledge to offer free dental check-ups for all will apply to every dental surgery and what agreement has been reached with the dental profession on this matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: The pledge of free dental checks relates to those dental practices that provide NHS general dental services. This issue will be discussed shortly with representatives of the dental profession.

Digital Technology

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Analysys will complete its forward look into the development of broadband services.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive expects to receive Analysys’ final report of its forward look study of broadband in Scotland in due course.

Digital Technology

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the report by Analysys into the development of broadband services and, if so, when and, if it will not publish the report, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: The report by Analysys for the Executive entitled Research on broadband in Scotland contains information from a wide range of companies and organisations, which was provided on a commercial in confidence basis. It has been agreed with Analysys, however, that an anonymised summary of the report will be published. Copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 27702).

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that patient information leaflets are available in accessible formats such as Braille and large print to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 places obligations on providers of goods and services to ensure that when they provide goods and services a disabled person is not treated less favourably by being refused a service, having it provided on worse terms or to a lower standard. It is also unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by failing to change a policy, procedure or practice, or to provide an auxiliary aid or service where the result is that it would be impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to use the service. Providing information about medicines would be regarded as an auxiliary service.

  To be a provider of goods and services covered by the act, a provider must provide either goods or services direct to the public. The manufacturers of medicines are therefore not covered and are not obliged to produce information in alternative formats.

  Title V of Council Directive 2001/83/EEC, which covers the information which is required to be provided with all medicines, permits the use of formats other than written text to be used. The UK Government encourages medicines manufacturers to make available large print, audio and Braille versions of patient information leaflets to those patients who request them. In addition, many companies run telephone helplines and other support services for users of their products which may increase the accessibility of information to visually impaired patients.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to reduce drug-related crime.

Cathy Jamieson: During our first term of Government we established the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) which, together with Scottish police forces and other law enforcement partners, is tackling drug-related crime across Scotland. In our second Programme for Government we have committed to expand the SDEA to enable it to build on its achievements.

  Drug dealers' assets have been targeted through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which is designed to strengthen and extend powers to investigate, trace and recover the proceeds of crime.

  To reduce drug crime, we have also introduced Drug Treatment and Testing Orders and, more recently, pilot drugs courts provide the courts with an intensive and demanding community sentence for drug misusing offenders who might otherwise receive a custodial sentence. The aim is to reduce both the drug misuse itself and, in turn, the associated acquisitive crime.

  Arrest Referral Schemes which, while not a part of the criminal justice process, will also provide access to support and treatment services for drug misusing offenders. Research shows entry into and retention in treatment can be effective in reducing offending.

Eating Disorders

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop accessible eating disorder units in each region.

Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on eating disorder services is incorporated in the Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland.  The guidance promotes consideration of cost effective models for accessing in-patient care and highlights that planning and commissioning for these services can be advanced on a consortium/regional basis if appropriate.

  However, it does not seek to impose any specific structure or level of service on NHS boards. It is the responsibility of NHS boards, working collaboratively, to develop services in response to assessed health needs and their view of local priorities. Boards should make these decisions within the framework of ministers’ policies and national priorities for the NHS.

Emergency Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a patient record IT database accessible for 24 hours a day for use by the emergency services.

Malcolm Chisholm: A patient record IT database accessible 24 hours a day for use by the ambulance and out of hours services is one the key benefits we expect from our eHealth plans to create Integrated Care Records. Records of care delivered currently stay within the organisation delivering the care. Over the coming three years we intend to bring together from these separate systems the key patient information needed by professional health care workers, including those working in the caring emergency services. In the meantime, we are supporting useful pilot work such as enabling out-of-hours GPs to dial in to their practice patient record IT database.

Energy

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a 400-megawatt natural gas-fired generating station at Westfield in Fife.

Lewis Macdonald: I can announce that the Scottish ministers have granted consent on this proposal in terms of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Additionally this consent carries deemed planning permission in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Enterprise

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community agents have been appointed by local enterprise companies in each of the last five years; what expenditure was incurred in making such appointments; what projects were successful as a result of work undertaken by community agents, and how many jobs were created, broken down by local enterprise company.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

Fireworks

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in order to empower local authorities to introduce a licensing scheme for vendors of fireworks.

Mr Andy Kerr: The licensing of the vendors of fireworks falls within the reserved subject of consumer protection. The Scottish Executive is keeping in close contact with the UK Government about the progress of Bill Tynan’s Private Member’s Fireworks Bill at Westminster which contains powers to introduce a licensing scheme for vendors of fireworks.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any losses to individual scallop fishing vessels caused by a reduction in dredge numbers would be proportionate to any potential conservation gains.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-530 on 10 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34605 by Mr Andy Kerr on 24 March 2003, how much of the £1.8 million allocated to the rates relief scheme for the white fish industry (a) has been paid out and (b) is expected to be paid out and whether any fish processing businesses have benefited from this scheme or are expected to benefit.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally, as hardship relief is administered by local authorities. However, local authorities have been asked to provide details of the relief granted to the Scottish Executive by the end of November 2003.

Food Supplements

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will seek from the Parliament on decisions relating to the forthcoming European legislation to restrict food supplements.

Mr Tom McCabe: EC Directive 2002/46/EC, which was adopted into European Law on 30 May 2002, will follow the normal parliamentary process for transposition into Scottish law.

Football

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange to meet the football authorities to discuss the future of football.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive contributed £41,000 to the Review of Youth Football by the Scottish Football Association and is represented on the steering group. The future of football in Scotland, particularly youth football, is discussed at meetings of the steering group.

Genetically Modified Crops

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution Scotland is making to the genetic modification national public debate.

Allan Wilson: The GM Public Debate is being organised at arms length from Government by an independent steering board. It features a series of conferences, debates and meetings across the UK during June and July.

  The first event in Scotland took place in Glasgow yesterday and local events are expected to follow throughout the country. The Executive understands that there have been expressions of interest to hold meetings in the Highland area, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as part of the wider programme of debate.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what the statistical changes, as identified by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency, have been in all acute speciality activities in each NHS hospital in each NHS board area in each year since 1995-96, showing any provisional data available, broken down into (a) in-patient (i) with and (ii) without transfers out, (b) day care and (c) in-patient and day care episodes using (1) SMR01 and (2) non-diagnostic ISD(S)1 data sources.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the member in due course and a copy will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency admissions there were to the (i) paediatric and (ii) maternity units of each hospital in the (1) Ayrshire and Arran, (2) Argyll and Clyde, (3) Dumfries and Galloway, (4) Lanarkshire and (5) Greater Glasgow NHS board area in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by postcode sector in deprivation categories 5 to 7.

Malcolm Chisholm: Due to the size of the tables used to answer, copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27788 for maternity and Bib. number 27789 for paediatric).

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were admitted to the paediatric units in each hospital in the (a) Ayrshire and Arran, (b) Argyll and Clyde, (c) Dumfries and Galloway, (d) Lanarkshire and (e) Greater Glasgow NHS board area in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by postcode sector in deprivation categories 5 to 7; what this figure is per thousand children in that age category; how many bed days were occupied as a result, and what the average stay was in each hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: Due to the size of the tables used to answer, copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27790).

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will end postcode prescribing in the Highlands, given that Highland NHS Board has set up a task group to manage implementation of guidance of new drugs "within a cash limited envelope of resource", as referred to in the report to the board on 1 April 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have made it clear that I expect NHSScotland to take account of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland advice and evidence and to ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

  Like all NHS boards, NHS Highland has to manage carefully the way it implements the introduction of new drugs. That includes assessing the cost implications and budgeting for them accordingly. But it does not alter the fact that clinical need, not finance, should determine whether or not a patient receives the drugs in question.

Health Promotion

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle the rise in sexually-transmitted infections among men.

Malcolm Chisholm: Current initiatives include the major TV campaign, launched on 4 June by NHS Health Scotland, to raise awareness of the risks of sexually transmitted infections; the development of a National Sexual Health Strategy, which will encompass measures to tackle the rise in such infections, and Healthy Respect, the national health demonstration project currently running in Lothian, which contains a particular focus on promoting young men's sexual health.

Hepatitis

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in respect of paying compensation to people who have contracted hepatitis C and similar diseases from treatment with contaminated blood products and what action it is taking to ensure that they have timeous access to their medical records in order to allow them to pursue claims in Scotland, elsewhere in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-273 on 4 June 2003 and S2W-313 on 5 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

Higher Education

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive for what minimum length of time universities are required to hold student records.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am not aware of any formal provision regarding the length of time that higher education institutions are required to hold student records.

Higher Education

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are for universities to maintain records of a student’s date of graduation and type of degree or diploma awarded and for how long any such records are required to be held.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-428 on 9 June 2003 and S2W-429 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was aware that homeowners would be liable for VAT charges for factoring as a result of the Glasgow housing stock transfer before the transfer took place

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive was aware that registered social landlords do not benefit from the same VAT exemptions enjoyed by local authorities, apart from when they benefit from the agreed custom policy line covering investment programmes in stock transfers. The factoring service provided by the Glasgow Housing Association is not part of the investment programme.

Housing

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether former local authority housing tenants now transferred to housing partnerships maintain the same rights to purchase their properties.

Ms Margaret Curran: Tenants who transfer retain their previous right to buy entitlement as long as they retain the tenancy they had at the point of transfer. If they change their tenancy, for example, as a result of a voluntary move to another house owned by the same landlord, or if there is a succession to the tenancy by another qualified person, then their right to buy entitlement will depend upon the status of the landlord, the property the tenant moves to, and any conditions which were agreed under the transfer process.

Housing

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any financial burden arising from delays in the purchase of former local authority properties by tenants under the right to buy caused by the transfer of housing stock to a housing partnership should be the responsibility of the tenant or the partnership.

Ms Margaret Curran: Responsibility for administering the right to buy scheme rests with the landlord. If there are delays in the right to buy process, then under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 tenants may be able to seek a reduction in the purchase price.

Housing

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken on the Norwegian Government's policy of providing a level of loan for housing based on the meeting of certain criteria, such as providing benefits to the environment, and whether it plans to adopt this approach in its own housing policy.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Executive has not undertaken any research on the Norwegian Government’s policy of providing a level of loan for housing based on the meeting of certain criteria, such as providing benefits to the environment, and has no plans at present for the introduction of such loans.

Ministerial Visits

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport will next visit the Stirling district.

Nicol Stephen: I hope to visit the Stirling district, in my capacity as Minister for Transport, soon.

Ministerial Visits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what records it will keep of the number of visits by ministers to each constituency over the course of this session of the Parliament and whether it will keep records of the number of requests by each MSP for meetings with ministers that are (a) made and (b) granted.

Mr Jack McConnell: Ministers recognise that it is important to visit all parts of Scotland in the course of their ministerial duties. Records of ministerial engagements remain accessible during the parliamentary session. These are not collated by constituency visited and there are no plans to do so in future. All requests for meetings by MSPs are considered by ministers, although records are not collated in the format requested.

Mountain Rescue

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S1F-2580 by Mr Jack McConnell on 13 March 2003, when it will make an announcement on secure funding for mountain rescue teams.

Cathy Jamieson: We are still in discussion with mountain rescue representatives and police forces about this funding stream but intend to make an announcement about revised funding arrangements later this year.

National Parks

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward its commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland to protect and enhance the coastline and whether areas such as Wester Ross or the Inner Hebrides are being considered for marine national park status.

Allan Wilson: We are committed to implementing the EU Recommendation on integrated coastal zone management. This requires that we develop a strategy for the integrated and sustainable management of Scotland's coasts. This strategy includes the options of establishing a National Coastline Park and Marine National Parks.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual loss of income would be if the non-domestic rates poundage is reduced to 44.4p and how this figure is calculated.

Mr Andy Kerr: Around £35 million in non-domestic rate income is raised from each 1 pence of the poundage rate. Reducing the poundage rate by 3.4p from the current rate of 47.8p to 44.4p, would cost around £120 million (3.4p x £35 million). This would be a recurring cost.

Nursing

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop specialist nursing posts.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has supported NHS trusts by providing £6 million for a specialist nurse initiative to train an additional 210 specialist nurses. The major programme of service redesign that is being driven forward across Scotland has the potential to allow NHS boards to support further development of specialist nurse roles in the context of delivering improvements to patient care.

Radioactive Waste

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Executive will regard as the "resolution of waste management issues", as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland , before supporting the building of new nuclear power stations.

Mr Jack McConnell: No decisions can be taken until we have fully considered and evaluated the outcome of the current consultation on a long-term solution for the management of radioactive waste.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive from whom it buys its electricity and what proportion is generated from renewable resources.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the Scottish Executive Environmental Management Report 2001-2002 published in October 2002 and available on the Executive’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/environmentalmanagement/reports.asp

  Page 18 of the report provided information on the Executive’s energy use, including electricity from renewable sources. The Executive currently buys its electricity from Scottish and Southern Energy plc, 100 per cent is from renewable sources.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted a safety review of junctions on the A9 between Perth and Stirling.

Nicol Stephen: A safety review of the junctions on the A9 between Perth and Stirling was carried out in 2002. A further study looking at the feasibility of possible junction improvements is expected to be concluded soon.

Roads

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that temporary trunk road closure orders to facilitate community events such as gala days and common ridings are fully effective.

Nicol Stephen: Yes. The promotion of a temporary traffic regulation order for a trunk road closure is an effective and legal way to facilitate community events.

Rural Development

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the availability of affordable housing in rural areas.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is currently considering how this Partnership Agreement commitment will be implemented.

School Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to support school transport.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive supports school transport by providing funding each year to local authorities to assist them to meet their statutory duty to make transport arrangements for certain pupils.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether unelected representatives on local authority education committees are entitled to vote on a school closure following the statutory closure procedure.

Tavish Scott: Non-elected members of local authority education committees who represent churches and denominational bodies have voting rights in relation to matters dealt with by those committees. Other non-elected members do not.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the working capacity of a school is assessed for the purposes of the statutory school closure process and whether the methodology used is consistent with other guidance issued by it on space per pupil.

Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32843 on 26 March 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

  The detailed management of school buildings and the assessment of the capacity of schools are matters for the education authorities. The Scottish Executive does not issue guidance on space per pupil.

Scottish Enterprise

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and guidelines are in place to ensure that Scottish Enterprise considers the background and previous employment history of companies and individuals seeking financial and other assistance.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Management Statement between the Executive and Scottish Enterprise sets out requirements which Scottish Enterprise must observe when considering the provision of financial assistance for projects or programmes. The detailed processes whereby Scottish Enterprise secure the appropriate assurances are for that body to determine.

Scottish Enterprise

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise was aware that Solutions RMC and Mr Tony Freeman were being investigated by the Scottish Charities Office during the period when Solutions RMC was seeking and receiving financial assistance.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Enterprise

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute an inquiry into the awarding of public funds by Scottish Enterprise to Solutions RMC.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Enterprise

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedures and guidelines operated by Scottish Enterprise offer adequate safeguards for public funds when it considers applications from individuals and companies seeking financial assistance.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Management Statement between the Executive and Scottish Enterprise sets out requirements which Scottish Enterprise must observe when considering the provision of financial assistance to individuals and organisations. The detailed processes whereby Scottish Enterprise secure the appropriate assurances are for that body to determine. Adherence to requirements will be checked by internal and external auditors.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has any plans to close its customer call centres in Glasgow and Dundee and consolidate provision in Edinburgh.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. It decided on 28 May 2003 to locate its consolidated customer call centre at Fairmilehead, Edinburgh.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the three call centres currently operated by Scottish Water is considered the most efficient and on what basis this view was reached.

Ross Finnie: The efficiency of individual units within Scottish Water is an operational matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what cost-benefit analysis underpinned Scottish Water’s call centre proposals and whether information on such analysis is publicly available.

Ross Finnie: The decision to consolidate the current three call centres is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Scottish Water is required to ensure that its proposals are appraised and that decisions taken represent the best value for money for its customers.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with (a) trade unions and staff, (b) the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland and (c) the Water Customer Consultation Panels about Scottish Water’s call centre proposals.

Ross Finnie: The decision was taken by Scottish Water in consultation with its staff and trade unions. Scottish Water is not required to consult either the Water Industry Commissioner or the Water Customer Consultation Panels on such a matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a comparison can be provided between the costs of consolidating Scottish Water’s call centres and the costs of the current operation.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the wider economic and environmental benefits and disadvantages would be of any centralised Scottish Water customer call centre in Edinburgh.

Ross Finnie: It is for Scottish Water to decide where and how it can deliver cost-effective services to its customers.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs will be lost in (a) Glasgow and (b) Dundee if Scottish Water’s plan to consolidate its call centres is implemented.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Scottish Water is tasked with delivering a more effective and efficient service to its customers. To achieve this Scottish Water is reorganising itself and aims to consolidate key functions at five key sites in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was (a) consulted on, (b) informed of or (c) approved Scottish Water’s call centre proposals.

Ross Finnie: The decision to consolidate call centres is an operational decision for Scottish Water and is designed to deliver more cost-effective services to customers.

Scottish Water

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Scottish Water about the provision of the public water supply for Carrbridge.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  During the weekend of 18 to 21 April 2003, Scottish Water experienced difficulties with a faulty valve which restricted flows to the Carrbridge area and, combined with higher than normal demand for water supplies, the reduced flow rate was not enough water to supply the village. The valve has been repaired and Scottish Water has put in place further preventative and early-warning measures, including booster pump capacity at the water tank so pressure is maintained during times of high demand and a remote monitoring system to ensure any future problems are detected quickly and efficiently. Scottish Water also plans to invest £2.25 million to replace water mains which are supplying the area and over £3.5 million for improvements at the reservoir and treatment works.

Smoking

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or plans to take, to address the low levels of public awareness of any health risks of passive smoking, as referred to in Smoking Policies in Public Places – Survey of Public House and Restaurant Customers , prepared for ASH Scotland and the Health Education Board for Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is continuing to work with NHS Health Scotland on a communication strategy to raise public awareness of the risks associated with passive smoking. Passive smoking is being addressed in a broader tobacco control context which includes activity in the home, the workplace and in public places. Work to date has included a variety of public awareness techniques, including TV, radio and press campaigns. Work is currently under way to further develop and advance this work through more mass media advertising and support materials. These new campaigns are expected to be launched later this year.

  The Partnership Agreement commits the Scottish Executive to consult on an action plan to achieve considerably more smoke free restaurants and pubs.

Smoking

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact mechanical ventilation systems have on any health risks associated with passive smoking.

Mr Tom McCabe: Ventilation systems can improve the comfort and welfare of the public and employees. The best systems can, provided they are properly operated and maintained, protect non-smokers from exposure to carcinogens. However, without being able to guarantee that such equipment is properly operated and maintained, the Scottish Executive does not endorse it as being as effective in reducing the health risks associated with passive smoking as smoke-free areas.

Smoking

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact separating a room into smoking and non-smoking areas has on any health risks associated with passive smoking.

Mr Tom McCabe: The effectiveness of designated non-smoking areas is dependent on a number of factors such as the lay-out of the premises concerned and airflow. However, while completely smoke-free are clearly the most effective way to reduce the health risks associated with passive smoking, the Scottish Executive welcomes any effort which is made to reduce exposure to second-hand for non-smokers.

Smoking

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact signage advising the public about the smoking policy of a business has on any health risks associated with passive smoking.

Mr Tom McCabe: External signage indicating the type of smoking policy in operation within the premises concerned enables customers to ascertain whether smoking restrictions are in place. This enables non-smokers to choose whether to expose themselves to the health risks and discomfort associated with passive smoking.

Special Educational Needs

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides guidance to education authorities on educating children with language and learning difficulties in Picture Exchange Communication System or British Sign Language.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive funds the Communication Aids for Language and Learning (CALL) Centre and the Scottish Sensory Centre to act as national sources of information, advice and training for parents, teachers and other professionals working with children with language and learning difficulties, or sensory impairment. It does not provide guidance on specific approaches to educating such children.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special educational needs therapists there were in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03, broken down by local authority area, with reference to paragraph 4.65 of chapter 4 of the Auditor General's report Moving to mainstream: The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools .

Peter Peacock: This information is not available since special educational needs therapist is not a recognised post.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued regarding the design for school buildings under private finance initiatives and public private partnership contracts to ensure that they meet the requirements for the inclusion of children with special educational needs, with reference to paragraph 4.31 of chapter 4 of the Auditor General's report Moving to mainstream: The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools .

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive and COSLA school estate strategy, Building Our Future: Scotland’s School Estate , sets out our vision and objectives to achieve improvements in the school estate over the long term. It emphasises the importance of good design and of taking account of the differing needs of all children and young people when improving the school environment.

  The Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 places a duty on local education authorities in Scotland to plan progressively to improve access to education for pupils with disabilities. The Scottish Executive issued Guidance on Preparing Accessibility Strategies in September 2002, detailing how consultation with staff, pupils and parents should be undertaken, when improvements to the physical environment, to the curriculum, and to communications with pupils with disabilities are planned and implemented.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding was given by each local authority in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 to assist in the policy of inclusivity in schools of children with special educational needs, with reference to paragraph 4.7 of chapter 4 of the Auditor General's report Moving to mainstream: The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools .

Peter Peacock: The costs of educating children with special educational needs are met mainly from local authorities' general expenditure. However, the Scottish Executive has provided additional funding to support inclusion and staff development and training, as set out in the following tables.

  Table A: Inclusion Programme (w.e.f. April 2000)

  

 Council
 2000-01
(£)
 2001-02
(£)
 2002-03
(£)


 Aberdeen City
 235,081 
 559,728 
 789,565 


 Aberdeenshire
 281,989 
 671,416 
 940,276 


 Angus
 126,800 
 301,911 
 423,887 


 Argyll and Bute
 99,131 
 236,030 
 325,925 


 Clackmannanshire
 58,677 
 142,267 
 195,108 


 Dumfries and Galloway
 166,497 
 396,428 
 553,058 


 Dundee City
 169,239 
 402,958 
 558,378 


 East Ayrshire
 144,593 
 344,276 
 481,870 


 East Dunbartonshire
 127,702 
 304,058 
 423,835 


 East Lothian
 102,474 
 243,992 
 347,795 


 East Renfrewshire
 105,881 
 252,103 
 355,731 


 Edinburgh, City of
 462,733 
 1,101,767 
 1,556,880 


 Eilean Siar
 33,424 
 87,494 
 108,255 


 Falkirk
 166,180 
 395,675 
 554,271 


 Fife
 417,877 
 994,966 
 1,395,147 


 Glasgow City
 718,370 
 1,710,438 
 2,376,008 


 Highland
 250,276 
 595,908 
 830,808 


 Inverclyde
 103,703 
 246,918 
 345,629 


 Midlothian
 95,740 
 227,957 
 320,536 


 Moray
 105,549 
 251,312 
 349,302 


 North Ayrshire
 172,329 
 410,315 
 572,830 


 North Lanarkshire
 404,989 
 964,279 
 1,351,617 


 Orkney Islands
 30,000 
 66,399 
 79,021 


 Perth and Kinross
 150,918 
 359,335 
 507,760 


 Renfrewshire
 210,927 
 502,217 
 706,957 


 Scottish Borders
 116,913 
 278,370 
 390,199 


 Shetland Islands
 30,365 
 80,860 
 99,365 


 South Ayrshire
 129,646 
 308,687 
 430,454 


 South Lanarkshire
 372,467 
 886,845 
 1,246,360 


 Stirling
 98,778 
 235,190 
 336,306 


 West Dunbartonshire
 119,329 
 284,122 
 402,433 


 West Lothian
 191,423 
 455,778 
 644,434 


 
 6,000,000
 14,300,000
 20,000,000



  Table B: Staff Development and Training

  

 Council
 Awarded 
  in Each Year 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02
(£)
 Awarded 
  in 2002-03
(£)


 Aberdeen City
 168,940 
 266,894 


 Aberdeenshire
 218,337 
 344,004 


 Angus
 92,601 
 146,028 


 Argyll and Bute
 84,130 
 131,463 


 Clackmannanshire
 60,746 
 95,845 


 Dumfries and Galloway
 141,743 
 223,433 


 Dundee City
 121,411 
 191,715 


 East Ayrshire
 118,789 
 187,269 


 East Dunbartonshire
 104,780 
 165,216 


 East Lothian
 65,587 
 103,339 


 East Renfrewshire
 82,928 
 130,660 


 Edinburgh
 291,189 
 461,087 


 Eilean Siar
 56,777 
 86,493 


 Falkirk
 166,148 
 261,896 


 Fife
 320,174 
 504,523 


 Glasgow
 558,920 
 887,199 


 Highland
 184,529 
 288,303 


 Inverclyde
 85,875 
 135,357 


 Midlothian
 64,810 
 102,180 


 Moray
 78,829 
 124,251 


 North Ayrshire
 136,632 
 215,399 


 North Lanarkshire
 323,869 
 510,318 


 Orkney Islands
 61,178 
 93,705 


 Perthshire and Kinross
 105,863 
 166,786 


 Renfrewshire
 166,777 
 262,761 


 Scottish Borders
 68,569 
 108,110 


 Shetland Islands
 47,606 
 72,125 


 South Ayrshire
 100,580 
 158,606 


 South Lanarkshire
 291,930 
 459,964 


 Stirling
 93,077 
 146,782 


 West Dunbartonshire
 95,434 
 150,498 


 West Lothian
 125,793 
 198,289 


 
 4,684,551 
 7,380,500

Tourism

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote tourism in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Frank McAveety: The promotion of tourism in the Scottish Borders is an operational matter for both VisitScotland and the Scottish Borders Tourist Board. But I know that both organisations are working hard to promote the Scottish Borders to potential visitors.

Voluntary Sector

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a programme similar to the proposed futurebuilders programme developed by HM Treasury.

Ms Margaret Curran: This is currently under consideration and a decision will be taken shortly.